The requirements for a shop system depend on the specific needs of the business model. One of the most important criteria of a shop system is, of course, the range of functions: What are the front-end and back-end features? What options do I have for product display? Is there an intelligent search, which SEO functions can I use, which plugins can I install? In our shop system comparison, we have compared a total of 16 providers in 179 criteria distributed over 16 categories. The summary of the market overview is available for download.
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The shop system as the central engine of the online shop
Online retail has further established itself as an additional supply branch in the Corona pandemic. The growth of 16.8% in the 2nd quarter (source: bevh) shows this impressively. People in Germany spent over 20 billion euros online during this period. Of course, the established online retailers and large platforms are the main beneficiaries of this growth. But the pandemic and the accompanying extensive lockdown are acting as a digitization accelerator. More and more retailers who were previously “only” offline are deciding to either finally tackle the e-commerce project or significantly expand their existing efforts.
Those who want a piece of the pie should also have the appropriate basic equipment. For online retailers, this means a professional shop system. But which is the right one, the right shop software? Given the abundance of e-commerce solutions, the choice is certainly not easy. And there is no one-size-fits-all solution anyway. Our comparison shows: Each solution has its own features, applications, different interfaces, APIs and services. So anyone who wants to set up an online store or expand or optimize the one they already have should first define their personal requirements. For example:
- How high is the budget?
- Which model should be used to create the shop? In a simple “Software as a Service (SaaS)” modular system? Or should it possibly be an “on-premise” e-commerce complete solution?
- Is an enterprise resource planning system available? Is this compatible with the shop system of choice?
- Do I already have programming and IT skills, or do I also need professional support?
Every company and every store operator must define their personal preferences and requirements for themselves. The list can be continued and extended here at will. The important thing is to determine decisive criteria in advance. What do I want? What do I need? Our shop system comparison uses 179 criteria to show you what the solutions can do.
Shop systems comparison: 179 criteria in 16 categories
In our shop system comparison, we put 16 solutions through their paces, in terms of functionality, costs, and deployment methods, and compared them in an editorial comparison. This comparison includes rental shop systems (SaaS solutions), purchasing systems (on-premise solutions), and dual-license models. We have not determined a “test winner”. Rather, we want to help you gain an overview and make a preliminary selection for your individual task.
Our studies, comparisons and market overviews are basically structured in a similar way and follow a common thread. For this purpose we have designed a questionnaire which, from our point of view, presents the most important functions and information of all shop systems in our shop systems comparison for interested parties, decision-makers and users. The analysis is based on 179 criteria, which we have divided into 16 different categories. The different categories present the various shop systems for your own online store in detail, examine the various functions, existing services of the providers and show legally relevant criteria as well as the price models of the individual software systems. The majority of all information here is based on self-reporting by the store system providers.
- General information of the participating companies (company headquarters, website, number of employees & customers, target group, since when has the product been available?)
- USP of the providers
- References of the store system providers
- Possibilities for cross-border commerce (to which countries within/outside the EU can merchants sell via the solution?)
- Basic features of the store systems (e.g. user/authorization systems, can be installed on own server, SaaS/ASP, open source solution, plug-in capability, responsive design, preview function, multichannel capability, virtual goods, etc.)
- Connection to marketplaces (to which marketplaces are there interfaces, e.g. Amazon, eBay, Otto.de, Rakuten, Alibaba etc.)
- Additional apps and plugins (social media apps, automation, PIM, event calendar, own community solution, display ad module, form builder, number of plugins in the store, number of free plugins, landing page builder)
- Integrations of newsletter tools (Which newsletter tools can be integrated? E.g. Cleverreach, Elaine, Episerver, Evalnache, LianaMailer, Mailchimp, Mailjet, Newsletter2Go etc.)
- Interfaces to ERP systems (which ERP systems can be connected, e.g. Afterbuy, JTL, Cateno, pixi, plentymarkets, SAP, etc.)
- Integration of logistics service providers (e.g. DHL, DPD, Hermes, Parcel.One, Shipcloud, etc.)
- Integration of PIM systems (e.g. AtroPIM, crossbase, pirobase PIM, etc.)
- Integration of DAM systems (e.g. 4AllPortal, AtroDAM, eyebase, Frontify, etc.)
- Integration of payment services (Which payment solutions are integrated? Which payment service providers are integrated?)
- Legal criteria and company information (Is personal data anonymized? Does the provider offer a standard contract for commissioned data processing? Is the company certified [QMS, DIN]? Is effective protection against cyber attacks ensured?)
- Additional services offered by the provider (Is there implentation support? Is there face-to-face or online training? Is there a manual? Is there a commuity support? And much more)
- Price approach of the solutions (Price system, is there a free starter version? What are the setup costs? What are the time requirements? What is the minimum contract period? What is the cost of the software/implementation for beginners/experienced retailers/enterprise retailers?)
Shop systems 2022: What most solutions offer today
Today, the possible functions for one’s own online store are almost infinite. This is also evident in the solutions offered by various providers.
The software in our shop system comparison already has a large number of functions integrated as standard. This ranges from the options to ship worldwide – keyword: growing cross-border commerce – to numerous connectable marketplaces and installable plugins to more and more integrable payment methods and payment service providers (PSP). Common payment methods such as PayPal and Giropay, as well as various payment providers for invoice or installment purchases, are now generally available in shop system software so that customers can find a comprehensive range of payment options in the online store. After all, they expect no less for a good customer experience.
And the integration options of other, now central e-commerce systems such as a product information management (PIM) system and the connection of more and more marketplaces have become even more important, so providers have stepped up the pace here. For this reason, we have carried out a more detailed survey of shop system developers in our store system comparison, particularly in the area of PIM. The topic of digital asset management (DAM) has also become more important, so we have also made a more detailed query about connectable solutions here. By the way, you will also find extensive market overviews of both PIM systems and DAM solutions from us.
Shop systems comparison: We have compared these providers
Here we offer you a short overview of the providers we compared in the store systems comparison for your online store:
Afterbuy
USP (according to their own statement): “SaaS cloud multichannel solution.”
References: Sportspar, Tepgo, Longboardshop, Taino Grills
CosmoShop
USP (according to its own statement): “Full service provider, ecommerce manufacturer and agency.”
References: Generali, Rehau, Avia, Bayrische Versicherungskammer, Vodafone
Dynamicweb E-Commerce Suite
USP (according to its own statement): “Dynamicweb E-Commerce Suite is a cloud-based all-in-one solution with CMS, e-commerce, PIM and marketing tools in one application. This approach reduces the complexity of your IT stack and helps you create exceptional customer experiences.”
References: Euronics, Europcar, Flying Tiger, Hummel, Mann + Hummel, bellissa HAAS
ElectronicSales Commerce Solution
USP (according to their own statement): “SaaS/Cloud solution with modular system for easy setup. Store operators can maintain the store completely themselves, without the need for technical expertise. – Very comprehensive B2B functions. – Very low project costs up to self-setup.”
References: Layer Großhandel, Omega Handelsgesellschaft m.b.H., Söhner Kunststofftechnik, Frings Informatic Solutions GmbH, Corpet Cork (natural flooring), Samaco
Hublify
USP (according to its own statement): “Hublify is more than a shop system, namely a cloud-based commerce platform with which the most diverse business models can be quickly realized: from subscription commerce, own marketplaces for B2C and B2B to omnichannel software. With a headless commerce architecture, Hublify understands how to link data (via API) as a data hub to play out personalized content.”
References: apons.eu, WEKA publishing group, manroland GOSS web systems, LENA Nachhaltigkeits GmbH, gartenfachmarkt24.de
IONOS MyWebsite Now Shop
USP (according to its own statement): “Easy-to-use, professional store solution incl. personal contact person at support.”
JTL-Shop
USP (according to its own statement): “Free merchandise management, large community and extensions for the products, Everything from one cell phone, Extensibility / individualization of the solutions.”
References: steel mill, Fynch-Hatton, Grillardor, Avides, r2-bike
modified eCommerce Shopsoftware
USP (according to its own statement): “All data remains on the merchant’s server (no cloud), as well as large helpful community.”
References: https://www.modified-shop.org/referenzen
novomind iSHOP
USP (according to its own statement): “Extensive feature set out-of-the-box (incl. CMS, OMS, search, etc.); Flexible architecture (coupled, headless and composable); Software and service from a single source.”
References: hagebau, OTTO, C&A, VW, Deutsche Post
PepperShop
USP (according to own statement): “1. numerous interfaces/modules: PepperShop is modularly expandable and has extensive connections to strong partners. 2. one point of contact: Glarotech GmbH develops the core system, implements the customizations and operates the e-commerce system on its own infrastructure. 3. individual solutions: PepperShop can be customized to the customer’s needs with one project.”
References: Wernli, Magic X, Abacus, The Swiss Post, Elinchrom
plentyShop
USP (according to its own statement): “Integration into the e-commerce ERP plentymarkets, flexibility & customizability, connection to marketplaces.”
References: Dynamo Dresden, Josef Seibel, Delife.eu, Wacken Open Air
SAP Commerce Cloud
USP (according to its own statement): “A single platform for all business models (B2B, B2C, B2B2C, D2C, marketplaces); rich e-commerce features for all customer requirements; integrations to SAP S/4HANA, SAP ERP and other SAP CX solutions; highly scalable and secure.”
References: Migros, Carrefour, Mercedes Benz, Aldi, Douglas
Shopware
USP (according to its own statement): “Shopware is open source and thus offers customers maximum flexibility and full control over their business processes.”
References: Borussia Dortmund, Philips, Jägermeister, Aston Martin and many more
Smartstore
USP (according to its own statement): “Open source DXP enterprise composable commerce platform based on Microsoft .NET.”
References: Sacher, Tesla/bk World, Scheppach, Stihl KR, Shimadzu
WEBSALE V8s
USP (according to its own statement): “Cloud power with on-premise flexibility”.
References: Krämer Pferdesport, Onlineprinters, Vet Concept, Seventyseven, Marriott
xt:Commerce
USP (according to its own statement): “flexible, expandable, easy to use”.
References: www.maxxus.com www.fitstore24.com https://www.garten-freunde.de/ https://www.mindfactory.de/
Further comparisons, studies and market overviews from marketingandtech.com can be found here.
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